ESteinPN reporting: Warriors set to send Crawford to Atlanta for Law and Claxton

* Didn’t want to tip my hand on the column, but yes, as a commenter has already suggested, adding two PGs, especially Law, really seems to shove the Warriors away from drafting a PG at No. 7.

Probably Jordan Hill. That’s what I’ve heard today, even before the Law/Claxton pick-ups.

—This has to be fast because I’ve got to write my column very soon, so…

ESteinPN is reporting that the Warriors are close to a dealthat would send Don Nelson-panned guard Jamal Crawford (and his two years, $19.5M) to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Acie Law and Speedy Claxton.

I’m definitely vouching for this report because ESteinPN is extremely reliable and because he has a good relationship with the Warriors front office folks these days (a much better relationship with them than anybody locally) and they love it when ESPN reports their stuff.

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Also, if it goes through, this is not a terrible deal for the Warriors at all, though they still would’ve been far better off keeping Al Harrington ($10m expiring next summer) than trading the disgruntled, Nellie-devalued forward for Crawford’s longer deal, only to Nelson devalue Crawford, too.

But the Warriors got something for Crawford, despite the league knowing that Nelson tried to force Crawford to use his opt-out June 30 (no way) and told Crawford he’d trade him if Crawford didn’t opt-out.

If this is Larry Riley’s first real move as GM, not bad. Nothing spectacular, but not bad.

* Salary situation: Either this deal must hold until July 1, with Crawford NOT opt-ing out on June 30, or Crawford must sign paperwork that guarantees that he will not opt-out of his remaining $9.4m/$10.1m.

(You can’t trade a pending free agent.)

Claxton’s $5.2m salary is up next summer; Law has $2.2m for this year and a team option at $2.9m for the year after that, which means he’s basically an expiring, too.

That’s $7.4m in 2010 expirings going to the Warriors, in exchange for a contract that does not expire until summer 2011.

I don’t think Claxton–traded by the Warriors along with Dale Davis for Baron Davis in ’05!–is in any Warriors plans, except as an expiring.

* Background: Law has been iffy in 2 yrs with Hawks, but he has size (6-3) and Nelson loved him in ’07 draft.

Yes, I’ve heard from several sources that Nelson openly wondered about–and some say pushed for–a ’07 draft-time trade of Monta Ellis to Atlanta either for the 11 pick or the rights to Law once the Hawks selected him.

Law is a back-up… to Monta Ellis if Ellis starts as the point guard or possibly seeing time with Ellis as the much-discussed big PG who can defend 2-guards that Ellis can’t handle.

* Overall: Not a terrible deal for a guy Nelson publicly de-valued (Crawford), with 2 yrs and almost $20m left. Warriors got back-ups/expirings.

Tim Kawakami

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Jamal Crawford has more class than Don Nelson and Robert Rowell. This is not a close call.

Al Harrington was the leading scorer and second leading rebounder for the New York Knicks. The New York Knicks won more games than the Golden State Warriors.

Life is simple. I’ll leave the defense of Nellie to the “sophisticaes” who “understand the nuances,” and gladly take my place in the ranks of those “who basically know nothing.”

JimmyJack

All I care about next year is watching Anthony Randolph play, the rest of it is nonsense. Odds he will bust out a 36 pt./20 re. game in the first three weeks of the season: 3/1

Jeremy

~ Reason

Can’t two things be equally true?

The Warriors would’ve been better off with Harrington riding the bench and pouting than dealing him for Crawford, despite his hallow numbers, bonehead play, and lack of willingness to defend and rebound.

Crawford’s gunner mentality helped on occasion, but Nelly made a mistake by making it known the team was trying desperately to get rid of him.

That said, still a good deal getting rid of Jamal for Acie Law and Speedy. At least Acie has some upside in a Nelly system and Speedy can be released for next to nothing.

The bad part is this means the Warriors will be drafting Jordan Hill instead of BPA. Hello Clifford Rozier II. It’ll be another wasted opportunity to add talent for a franchise that finds ways to lose, but lucky for them the team is still extremely talented. They were an above average team when Monta, Jackson, Maggette, etc were all healthy. If Evans fell to them and was put at off-guard that would be a huge steal.